Parlando: The COC Blog

3/28/2013

Opera Connect - Lucia in Concert

Enjoy a little Lucia di Lammermoor on Thursday April 4, 2013, when four graduates of the COC Ensemble Studio perform selections from Donizetti's bel canto classic. This free event takes place at 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. at the Waterfall Stage in First Canadian Place, hosted by CBC Radio's Brent Bambury and featuring Peter Barrett, Teiya Kasahara, Adam Luther and Christopher Mokrzewski. Join us as Brent and our performers chat about the beauty of Lucia di Lammermoor, and perform some samples from the dazzling opera.

Teiya Kasahara, soprano

Ottawa soprano Teiya Kasahara was a member of the COC Ensemble Studio from 2007-2010. Teiya most recently performed in Vancouver Opera's The Magic Flute as The Queen of the Night to the delight of audiences and critics alike, and is currently covering the role of Lucia for the COC.

What piece are you performing at the concert?
"Regnava nel silenzio ... Quando rapito in estasi". This is Lucia's cavatina, her first aria of the opera.

What is it about Lucia di Lammermoor and bel canto that has us coming back for more?The music of Lucia di Lammermoor is sublime; it contains some of the most gorgeous and moving melodies ever composed in opera. But the story is also very compelling and full of passion.

What is your favourite piece from Lucia di Lammermoor?
It would have to be Lucia's mad scene, "Il dolce suono...Spargi d'amaro pianto". The music is haunting and keeps the audience craving more as we are held suspended in the tragic madness that Donizetti illustrates. It's simply breathtaking.

Newfoundland tenor Adam Luther was a member of the COC Ensemble Studio from 2007-2010. Adam most recently performed with the COC as the Shepherd in Tristan und Isolde and is involved in all three spring operas. He is covering the role of Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor, and performing in Salome and Dialogues des Carmélites.

What piece are you performing at the concert?
I am singing the "Wolf's Crag duet" with Enrico and a portion of Edgardo's aria, "Fra poco" from Act 3.

What is it about Lucia di Lammermoor and bel canto opera that has us coming back for more?
It's the exquisite beauty of the melody. Singers will always be interested in performing bel canto operas because there is nothing more thrilling than spinning out long, virtuosic lines that can be embellished and interpreted uniquely depending on the singer. There is a wonderful freedom in the rubato of the music and the soprano's cadenzas are always something that one looks forward to. Lucia is a perfect example of the beauty of the bel canto style, with the famous "Mad Scene", as well as the "Wolf's Crag duet" which is a quintessential tenor/baritoneduet that lets the men really show off their chops.

What is your favourite piece from Lucia di Lammermoor?
My favourite piece from Lucia is the sextet. I have performed it a number of times in concert and it will always remain one of the greatest ensembles in all opera. It represents bel canto ensemble writing at its finest.

Listen to Adam perform "Fra poco" and the "Wolf's Crag duet" with Peter Barrett at 1:15 p.m., accompanied by Christopher Mokrzewski on piano.

You can also catch Adam Luther and Peter Barrett joined by fellow Ensemble Studio alumni (and Peter's brother) Michael Barrett on Tuesday, April 23 for the Free Concert Series program We's the B'ys. All three COC Ensemble Studio alumni hail from the same town, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and will celebrate their shared heritage in an engaging hour of songs from their native province.

Photos: (top) Anna Christy as Lucia in English National Opera’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor, 2008, by Clive Barda.